José Martínez Sánchez (born 11 March 1945), nicknamed Pirri, is a Spanish former footballer. A central midfielder in the early part of his career, he finished up as a sweeper.
He spent the vast majority of his career with Real Madrid, appearing in 561 competitive matches and scoring 172 goals while winning 15 titles. He also served as captain of the club.[1]
During his tenure at Real, Pirri won ten national championships, netting in double digits in five of those seasons including a career-best 13 goals in 1975–76. He added nine appearances in the 1965–66 European Cup (for a total of 57 with 18 goals in the competition), including the final against Partizan (2–1 win in Brussels);[4] he was part of a generation of players of the team dubbed Yé-Yé.[5]
In 1980, Pirri joined Mexican Liga MX side Puebla. He scored his first goal for them on 28 September, in a 2–0 home defeat of Atletas Campesinos.[6]
Pirri retired from the game at the age of 37 due his club's poor economic situation, even though he had one year more running in his contract.[7] He then completed his studies to qualify as a physician, and joined Real Madrid's medical staff;[8] in late December 1999, he was named their general manager after Jorge Valdano (who later replaced him) rejected the offer.[9]
↑Relaño, Alfredo (1 June 2014). "El Madrid se retrata de 'ye-yé'"[Madrid go ‘ye-yé’]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 September 2017.
↑"Primer gol de Pirri en el Puebla"[First Pirri goal in Puebla]. El País (in Spanish). 30 September 1980. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
↑"Pirri se retira definitivamente del fútbol"[Pirri retires from football for good]. El País (in Spanish). 13 August 1982. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
↑Sámano, José (28 September 1994). "Valdano: "El equipo salvó situaciones límite""[Valdano: "The team saved incredible match balls"]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 September 2017.
↑"El Madrid entrega a Pirri el cargo de 'manager' que había ofrecido a Valdano"[Madrid hand to Pirri manager job it had offered to Valdano]. El País (in Spanish). 30 December 1999. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
↑"Official announcement". Real Madrid CF. 17 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
12González, Tomás (10 November 2023). "José Martínez 'Pirri', presidente de honor del Real Madrid"[José Martínez 'Pirri', Real Madrid honorary president] (in Spanish). El Debate. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
12Pla Díaz, Emilio. "José Martínez, 'Pirri' – International Matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
↑"Benito y Pirri son los únicos que tienen tan alta condecoración"[Benito and Pirri are the only ones so highly decorated]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 20 September 2007. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
↑Sánchez-Flor, Ulises (18 November 2007). "Así gano Pirri la Laureada"[How Pirri won the Laureada]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 September 2017.
↑"La virtud de la paciencia por José Martínez Sánchez "Pirri""[The virtue of patience by José Martínez Sánchez "Pirri"]. La Razón (in Spanish). 12 August 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
↑"Pirri cumple 71 años"[Pirri celebrates 71st birthday]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 11 March 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
↑Casado, Edu (20 October 2014). "Qué fue de… Pirri: el pundonor y la entrega en el Real Madrid"[What happened to… Pirri: heart and commitment in Real Madrid]. 20 minutos (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 September 2017.
↑"Pirri". European Football. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
↑"Equipo ideal del fútbol español"[Spanish football's all-star team]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 21 May 1976. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
↑"Equipo ideal del fútbol español"[Spanish football's all-star team]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 11 May 1978. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
↑Mir, José (22 May 1980). "El equipo ideal del fútbol español"[The Spanish football's all-star team]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 November 2024.